Sunday, April 27, 2025
The Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a beloved tradition in the community. Organized annually by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, the event first took place in 1997 and has since grown into one of the most well-attended and supported parades outside of New York City. This year, the parade will be held on March 22. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big day.
Parking and street closures
The parade, scheduled for March 22, will kick off at 12 p.m. at the Municipal Parking Lot on North Sunrise Highway. As shown on the map, it will then turn left onto North Long Beach Road and conclude at Washington Street.
Please note that streets along the parade route may be closed a few hours prior to the event. Per the village’s schedule, road closures will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. on North Long Beach Road and North Village Avenue, from Sunrise Highway to Lakeview Avenue. Additionally, Jefferson Avenue and North Long Beach Road, between Sunrise Highway and Water Street, will be closed starting around 10:30 a.m.
Streets will reopen around 2 p.m., when the parade is expected to end. Avoid parking on any of the streets listed above on the day of the parade. To prevent any inconvenience, it's recommended that people who will be affected by these road closures move their vehicles by 9 a.m. the day of the parade.
Who is marching in the parade
This year’s grand marshal, Suzanne Murphy Sullivan, will lead the parade. Sullivan, who is currently the village's director of community development, is a third-generation Rockville Centre native and former village trustee. Known for her leadership and charitable efforts, she joined the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee in 2006 and served on its board of directors for several years.
Over 50 businesses, non-profits and local organizations will march behind the grand marshal down Maple Avenue. Some of the participants include the Long Beach Seaside Marching Band, Nassau County Firefighters Emerald Society, RVC Breast Cancer Coalition, RVC Soccer Club, Better Home Health Care and The BackYard Players & Friends.
How RVC celebrates the parade
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee has made the parade possible for 28 years. Their slogan is the “Parade that cares and shares,” and they showcase it by selecting three charities each year —one local, one national, and one Irish — to benefit from the organization’s fundraising efforts. This year’s charities are SIBS Place, The Remember Nolan Project and The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
In preparation for the parade, the committee organizes fundraising events year-round, contributing nearly $1.8 million to charities over the years. These events include the popular Taste of Rockville Centre, bringing local flavors together for the community, and the BackYard Breakfast, a collaboration with the BackYard Players & Friends to provide breakfast to local residents. The committee even lights up the tree outside Village Hall to kickstart the month of celebrations.
This year, before the parade, the committee will be holding a mass at St. Agnes Cathedral at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome.
For more information on the committee's mission and work, visit RVCStPatrick.com.
